Are environmentalists too focused on the negative? (Picture: Metro/Getty)
In MetroTalk, a reader has a theory on why the Green parties lost seats in the EU elections.
Are people just tired of being preached to? Have the antics of Just Stop Oil turned voters away from environmentalism? Are the policies of the Greens too doom and gloom?
Additionally, one commenter breathes a sigh of relief in light of the far-right surge in the EU elections, saying they’re glad Brexit got the UK out. What do you think?
Share your thoughts on these topics and more in the comments.
How can the Greens improve their popularity?
The large loss of seats and decline in popularity of Green parties in the EU elections this week shows the problems of their policies and negative approach.
Too often, they are advocating for a decline in living standards – as food becomes more expensive for example – and telling people to stop doing things like flying, as well as having anti-science opposition to nuclear power and GMOs.
The childish and futile actions of Just Stop Oil and their like add to this negative perception of environmentalists having no realistic solutions.
We need a more optimistic vision of decoupling economic growth from environmental harms.
We need an eco-modernist approach advocating for more nuclear power and for GMOs.
Nuclear power can provide the plentiful clean, safe and reliable energy we need while tackling climate change.
GMOs – with higher yields and less need for pesticide – can help feed a growing population while using less land and so allowing more of it to be returned to nature. They can also help mitigate climate change as well as adapt quickly to a warming climate.
This provides a positive vision for the future and not the doomerism we so often hear from ‘environmentalists’. Mark Dawes, London
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The disgusting vandalism of the King’s portrait by animal rights activists from Animal Rising (Metro, Wed) just reinforces to people that they would never want to be associated with ‘vegans’ if this is what they are all like. Simon Densley, Wood Green
As Europe is starting to elect far-right parties, such as Marine Le Pen’s National Rally, isn’t it time that hardcore Remainers thanked Brexiteers for removing Britain from the EU? David, Durham
Should the major parties be prioritising renting?
More of us will rent than buy a house (Credits: Getty Images)
The obsession with home ownership continues and I’m hearing nothing from the major parties about the rental market.
We need a change of emphasis, with vastly increased availability of rental properties and dramatic rent reduction.
Think of the advantages – easier and quicker to move if work dictates or to a smaller or larger property as the size of one’s family increases or decreases.
Also, there is nothing promised regarding public transport other than getting us to London more quickly.
I would like to visit places like Clitheroe sometimes, also Bakewell – places only about 40 miles from Huddersfield but which take quite some time to reach by train or bus. Please start thinking east to west rather than north to south!
Another concern is rail fares. Unless you get a special offer by booking some time in advance, a trip of any distance generally costs approximately three times as much as going by car.
This is doing nothing to deter people from using their cars – it’s as if cars are for people who can’t afford public transport. How does that help the environment?
If you can find me a party that will address the above I may consider voting. Jean, Huddersfield
Will you be giving Rishi a chance?
Should voters give Rishi a chance to clean up Boris Johnson’s mess? (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
Yes, the Tories have been a long, long way from perfect and Boris Johnson was, at times, a shambles, but Rishi Sunak can only but try to get things back on track.
Maybe he deserves that chance. If you don’t feel that way, maybe you need to look at an alternative party to Labour, who will spend the next few years giving us all the excuses about why they cannot fix what the Tories have messed up in the past 13 years or so.
They will use that excuse every time they fall short instead of taking responsibility for their actions, which will probably bring this country to a lot worse state than it’s already in. John, Bromley
The Conservative Party manifesto pledge to axe stamp duty for first-time buyers on properties up to £425,000 will increase house prices. Anthony, Fulham
People are suggesting Labour’s policy of imposing VAT on private school fees will lead to them being made unaffordable for many and to parents taking their kids out of private education and putting them back into state schools.
That’s clearly not what’s going to happen.
They may style themselves as cosy havens for children but private schools are hard-nosed businesses (despite their inexplicable charitable status) and have more nous than to simply wipe out large swathes of their customer base at a stroke.
What will happen is the schools will lower their fees accordingly and so absorb a large proportion of the hit themselves.
This will be paid for by making cuts – perhaps ‘making do’ by delaying repairs and renewals, spending less on libraries and other teaching materials, maybe selling off some of their playing fields – in exactly the way that state schools have been expected to do all these years.
I believe the process is called ‘levelling up’ – something which the incumbent government has consistently failed to do, despite it being one of their flagship policies for a considerable time. Julian Self, Wolverton
(Picture: Carl Court/Getty Images)
Only dogs can hear this whistle
I have no sympathy for Rishi Sunak over the ‘dog whistle’ politics of Nigel Farage.
The Reform Party leader questioned whether the prime minister understood ‘our culture’ after he left D-Day commemorations early – possibly in reference to his immigrant heritage.
Mr Sunak says that sort of politics ‘is not good for our politics’. It is, though, OK for his Tory Party to scapegoat the Muslim community, transgender community, benefit claimants, disabled people, the Windrush generation… I could go on.
The Tories and Sunak are experts at ‘dog whistle’ and divisive politics and are primarily responsible for the immense hatred that currently exists in our country. Michael, Atherton
Unworthy guitarists and the problem with citizen arrest
How on earth can Taylor Swift make it into the top ten top guitarists of the past 20 years (Metro, Tue)? I mean, come on. She can no doubt strum like any good busker but a top guitarist? Purrlease! Chris, Cornwall
In suggesting that citizens should reintroduce ourselves to a citizen’s power of arrest, Antony Porter (MetroTalk, Wed) is no doubt well intentioned but unfortunately none of the offences he mentions – of pavement cycling, dog fouling or littering – allow us to exercise that power because they are not indictable, ie more serious, offences. Beware! Insufficient knowledge can be dangerous and could get him into an awful lot of trouble. HG, Maidstone
An excellent suggestion from Antony. He asked what we would do with those arrested. Chain gangs are the answer.
They would work outside in all weathers to fill in potholes, pick up litter and perform other neglected tasks. What about reintroducing the medieval stocks, where the public could vent their fury?
Once those who ignore our laws have sampled rough justice they will not come back for seconds. Next are eco-warriors. Clark Cross, Linlithgow